I
love ‘em…young people out there expressing the reality that there is something
radically wrong with our system.

Months
ago, a couple came into the market where I work and after some discussion said
that $250,000 per year income was not that much. Later, in the New York Times, there was an article
that said much the same thing. They were commenting on the fact that $250,000
shouldn’t be taxed at a higher rate. Not once was it mentioned that if $250,000
wasn’t that much, what about the citizen who is making a “decent” wage of $10
per hour. That’s $20,000 per year full time. Not only that, as they complain
about their insufficient salary, they complain about those $10 per hour souls
not paying enough taxes. I’m appalled. These are our fellow citizens. We know
them. They are not lazy or afraid of work. They are us. We are us. How can you
not understand that?Nobody wants
charity; we only accept it when we have no choice. We want to work and support
our community. I think this is obvious with the response to “Irene.”

That
“One percent” has used extortion on us at both the federal and state levels. On
the federal level they threaten (and make good on the threat) to take jobs
abroad unless we accept Third World wages. We have read in these pages the one percent
threatening to move out of Vermont unless we lower their taxes. The richest
among us have been waging class war against the USA and Vermont for too long
now. I thank the young people for finally standing up for the rest of us. It’s
time to put a stop to this system and progress to a system that values people
above money and war.

So,
first off, we have to agree that to maintain a healthy society, to even count
ourselves worthy of that name, all of us progress together, not only as
individuals. All of us have the right to food, housing, education and health care.
Even ancient tribes did this. If we can’t do this, then we are not worthy of
being called civilized. We are barbarians.

Secondly,
we re-align our foreign policy to where going to war is a slow, well thought
out decision, not just wiping out anyone who disagrees with us. We had the
world with us after 9/11. We blew it. Now we have to make amends and start
again. The youth around the world will work with us if we listen to the “Occupy”
crowd. It’s time to start rebuilding.